Director Tobias Strömberg reluctantly leaves for refresher training, which shoemaker Hesekiel Naukkarinen arrives at full of enthusiasm. Sergeant Naukkarinen from Savo and Sergeant Major Joki-Paavola from Ostrobothnia compete for the favor of Colonel Emma, the colonel's cook. The colonel's daughter Helvi charms not only Lieutenant Raimo Tappara but also the family man Strömberg.

Merchant Iivari encounters significant challenges in his entrepreneurial career when Merthen, a commercial counselor, attempts to prevent his success. Merthen's daughter Verna falls in love with the honest Iivari, who is not acceptable as a son-in-law to the Merthen family.

Vinski inherits a general store in Ihantala from his aunt, which he starts running with his friend Lapatossu. The friends face fierce competition from the greedy merchant Juhos. The resourceful Lapatossu solves the problems of the villagers and evacuees in between business transactions.

Forester Antti Kare and manager John Freyberg travel north in search of millions worth of timber sales. The manager's giddy daughter Margit also secretly joins the journey.

Olavi, a farmer's son, leaves his home after a dispute with his father and leads a life of a womanizing logger.

On a train journey, Jaeger Corporal Martti falls in love with Sabina, a dancer from Liivi, who has also caught the eye of Baron Rolf. The intrigues of spies and the war cast shadows over the relationship between the beautiful dancer and the handsome Jaeger.

Sergeant Kalle Ryhmy, Second Lieutenant Ville Romppainen, and Mörökölli the cat travel from the front lines to Helsinki for a vacation. The trio, traveling by train, rescue the mysterious beauty Dora and Argentine war reporter Santa Rosa from a snowdrift, who lead them on the trail of an international spy ring hunting for military secrets.

Young farmer Paavo's wife dies in childbirth, and their baby soon after. The wife's family claim back the dowry she brought to their marriage, but Paavo has already used most of it for improvements at the farm. Paavo's life starts going downhill as he resorts to drinking.

In 1916, Finland is still a part of Russian Empire. Eugen Schauman murders the governor of Finland, and his fellow activists take on smaller tasks in the fight for freedom.

Katariina, an orphaned girl from the north, travels to Helsinki to live with her distant relative Mauri, who has been appointed her guardian. The unpretentious child of nature irritates, amuses, and charms Mauri, who is accustomed to high society, and his bachelor friends.